Method of forging wheel-blanks.



No. '793,84. PATENTED JULY 4, 1905. J. H. BAKER.

METHOD 0F PORGING WHEEL BLANKS.

APPLIUATION FILED MAY w. 1904,.

2 sums-SHEET 1.

Si s l. l l 55 n .iQ N\\\ No. 793,814. PATENTBD JULY 1, 1905. J. H. BAKER.

METHOD 0F FORGING WHEEL BLANES.

PPPPPP ATION FILED MAY 1e. 1904.

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" iTnn STATES Patented July 4:, 190255.,

JAMES H. BAKER, OF PIlUTSBURG, PENNYLVANIA.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 793,814, dated J'uly 4, 1905.

Application filed May 16, 1901i. Serial No. 208,265.

To all la7/1,0m t 'in/ty concern.'

Be it known that l, JAMES H. l5/mnu, a citizen oi the United States, residing at flittsburg, in the county oi' Allegheny and State oi'I Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Methods of Forgi ng iVheel- Blanks, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings.

My invention consists oi' an improved method of `forging circular metallic bodies, as car wheels or blanks, 'from a rough ingot or blank-body by a continuous series of rapidlysucceeding' operations, with a view of reducing it to an approximately finished size without reheating, forging the metal outwardly and at the same time distributing the inferior central portions oil the blank toward the central part of the hub and removingit, and automatic manipulation as far as possible, utilizing g'ravity to advance the blank and iinally deliver it at a given point. l also arrange to allow the excess metal to Vflow inwardly toward the center of the hub and also outwardly in laterally-opposite directions and afterward remove such excess in forming the journalopening.

My method also employs the use of an ingotblank considerably thicker and less in diameter than the linished article, thereby giving opportunity to forge the hub and rim portions ilatwise and also making it easier to iorce the metal outwardly in the li rst steps of the process, because of the lessened distance to the outside oi' the circle.

The forging-dies are arranged in a series of opposing' horizontally-disposed pairs, to which the blank is transported in any suitable manner. In thearrangement oi mechanism shown the blank is caused to roll upon its periphery by gravity, being supported upon an inclined ilioor, which may be adapted to be vertically adjusted, means being provided to arrest its travel between each pair oi' dies and ior releasing the blank from the dies. By this dispou sition oi' the dies and the travel of the blank the loosened scale will 'fall from themn Referring now to the drawings illustrating1 the method, Figure l is a longitudinal vertical sectional view of an apparatus adapted to carry out my invention. Fig. 2 is a plan view thereof', partly in section, the blanks being shown in position between each pair ot' dies immediately before each operation and, with the exception oi? the first blank, in the form produced by the preceding dies. Figa 3, fi, 5, 6, and 7 are detail views, in side elevation and cross-section, illustrating the blank in its successive steps from the ingot to the finished cai-wheel blank ready 'For turning. Fig. 8 is a detail view showing the laterally-directed side oi" the runway. Fig. 9 is a detail sectional view of a heated die.

My method is carried out in a series oi Forging steps, the iorging 'functions being performed in the earlier oi such steps, while the linishing oiierations are designed to re duce the blank as nearly as possible to the finished form and to remove the central excess portion in the operation ol forming the journal-opening, supplemental operations iacilitating the progress oiE the blank through theapparatus, limiting it at proper positions, and iinally ejecting it Yfrom the dies and delivering it to any desired point.

The original ingot or blank 2 is circular in iorm, having a peripheral lliange extension 3 at one side and a central openinglt large enough to receive any excess oi metal flowing into it from the forgingoperation. The blank is introduced edgewise between the opposing' longitudinally-acting dies 5 6, both of which may be positively actuated by suitable mechanism, although but one die may be actuated, as shown, the other remaining stationary, these dies being provided with relatively longitudinally movable centering mandrels. Genen ally all of the dies are similar in their action and are designed to compress part of the metal laterally toward the periphery and allow part oi it to iiow toward the center in the iirst steps, while reducing it in thickness annularly between these inner and outer portions. To this end they are provided with annular projections 7 7, surrounding a central depression 8, the inner and outer faces 9 l0 oiE the projections 7 tapering away i'roin the apex of the projection in such manner as to do rapid forging in the first steps and to shape the wheeltread in the finishing operations. In the lirst IOO step these projections enter against the face of the blank, forcing' the metal in both directions, the central portion flowing into the inner hub-cavity et and thence outwardly, forcing the mandrels backwardly to make room. This hub-cavity L1 is primarily large enough to receive the largest excess of metal liable to occur, for should this cavity be entirely lilled before the dies come home the fiow would stop and the free operation of the dies be interfered with. r1`he advantage from this is apparent, because in practice the ingot or the hole in its center may vary in size, or it may be lightened by scaling', and therefore this excess of metal cannot be predetermined. 1f this space were otherwise located, a light blank would leave a defect which would destroy the article, but being left in the central part of the hub and punched out the amount of excess metal is not material within reasonable bounds. This operation is clearly indicated in the second step of Fig. 2, which also shows the central mandrels 11 12 in the position they assume before the second step is taken. The third step of Fig. 2 shows a central portion of the hub partially filled by the preceding operations, which have forced the mandrels 11 12 backwardly against their actuating pressure, their backward travel being limited when desired by positive means to prevent the mandrels from being forced too far outwardly or limited only by the adjustment of the spring' or piston. As the forging' takes place nearer and nearer to the periphery, there is little inclination for the metal to flow inwardly. Fig. 2 shows a punch 13 ready to removethe surplus metal at the center. By these means yieldable resistance is opposed to the inflow of the surplus metal, which, while not being positively restricted in its flow, is against partial resistance. The fourth step of Fig. 2 shows the finished hub embraced by the centering dies 14 15 and the outer independentlyacting conn'n'essing-dies 16 17, which further compress and expand the blank. 1f desired, the central mandrels may be used at this stage for centering in place of the center dies. Stripping-spring's 1S are mounted in the dies, which automatically eject the blank from them when released, allowing it to roll to the next position.

The supporting inclined flooris composed of a series of vertically-adjustable sections 19, hinged at 20, supported upon temper-screws Q1, intervening springs 22 being' provided, if desired, to allow for the expansion of the metal during the forging. Other forms of floor may be used in carrying out the invention. The blanks roll upon the inclined iioor between vertical longitudinal sides 23 23,

which constitute a runway and maintain the blank on edge.

For the purpose of arresting the blank in position for action by thc dies a bar or abutment 2a is suitably mounted across the runway, as shown, means being' provided to withdraw the bar to allow the blank to roll forward to the next position. For the purpose of delivering the finished blank on its side onto any desired receptacle one side of the runway is deliected laterally, as shown at 25, Fig'. 8, and as the blank comes to this point the delivery is automatically accomplished, the blank falling toward the bent-over portion of the runway and out onto the platform or carriagc.

In order to save power and facilitate the forging, I may heat the projections 7 of the dies and maintain them at the highest allowable degree of heat by providing' an interior cavity 26, in which suitable fuel may be burned.

By my method I am enabled to perform the various operations very rapidly, completing the forging in one heat with a minimum of manual attention, dispense with the poorer metal in the center of the ingot, and can use a regularly-molded ingot at an initial cost per pound of about one-third of the cost of a molded car-wheel shape, and thus produce an entirely and thoroughly forged car-wheel at low cost.

1. The method of forging wheel-blanks consisting in pressing' a circular blank provided with a central cavity to cause the metal thereof to simultaneously flow outwardly beyond said cavity and against yielding' resistance into said cavity.

2. The method of forging Wheel-blanks consisting in pressing a circular blank having' a central cavity between oppositely-arranged dies adapted to simultaneously force the metal away from and toward the center and around an inner receding mandrel.

3. The method of forg'ing' wheel-blanks consisting' in pressing a circular blank having a central cavity between oppositely-arranged dies adapted to force the metal away from and toward the center and around a yieldable resisting medium or means adapted to permit the surplus metal to liow into the cavity.

L1. The method of forgingwheel-blanks consisting in placing the end of a mandrel centrally within the cavity of an annular metal blank and pressing the blank laterally between dies formed to force the metal simultaneously away from and toward the center, and causing the mandrel to recede as the metal presses against it.

5. The method of forging wheel-blanks consisting in placing the ends of tapered mandrels centrally within the cavity of an annular metal blank and pressing the blank laterally between dies formed to force the metal simultaneously away from and toward the center, and causing the mandrels to recede by pressure of the metal against them.

6. The method of forging wheel-blanks con- IOO IIO

mania Sistine; in pressing a circular blank having a the next adjacent pair, and holding' it against central Cavity successively between a series of further travel during' each operation. I0 pairs of oppositely-arrangedliorizontally-aetln testimony whereoilf flallix mysignatnroin ing dies constructed to simultaneously force presence ol two witnesses.

5 the metal away lfroniancl toward the center of Y JAMES H. BAKER.

the blank, and allow the Surplus metal to flow l/Vitnesses: into tlie central cavity, transferrirlgthe blank JAS. J. MCAFEIG,

enlg'ewise by gravity Al'ronn one pair ol flies to4 U. li/l. CLARKE. 

